The National Weather Service office in Norman, Oklahoma has issued a Flood Warning covering six areas across three states, in effect from 2:12 PM CDT on October 17 through 7:32 PM CDT on October 20. The affected areas are Wichita County and Wilbarger County in Texas; Brantley County in Georgia; and Lake, Volusia, and Sarasota counties in Florida.
A Flood Warning means flooding is already occurring or is imminent in the warned areas – this is a step above a Flood Watch, which only means conditions are favorable for flooding. Residents in these counties may notice rising water in rivers, creeks, and low-lying spots, water covering roads, and ponding in poor-drainage areas and underpasses.
What to keep in mind
If you live in or plan to travel through any of the six listed counties, avoid driving through flooded roadways – it takes only about six inches of moving water to knock an adult down, and roughly a foot of water can float many vehicles. Turn around, don’t drown. Keep an eye on local river gauge forecasts if you live near a waterway, and move vehicles, equipment, and valuables out of low-lying areas before water rises. With the warning running through the evening of October 20, this is a multi-day event, so check conditions before each trip rather than assuming roads that were clear yesterday remain passable. This alert is based on data from the National Weather Service (NWS Norman, OK).
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do right now if I'm in one of these counties?
Avoid driving through any water-covered road, stay clear of swollen creeks and drainage ditches, and monitor local NWS updates. If you live in a flood-prone spot, be ready to move to higher ground.
How long will this flood threat last?
The warning is currently scheduled to run through 7:32 PM CDT on October 20, though the National Weather Service can extend, expand, or cancel it as conditions change.
Is it safe to drive through a flooded road if the water looks shallow?
No. Around a foot of moving water can float most cars, and the road underneath may be washed out even when the surface looks intact. Find an alternate route.
Why are counties in Texas, Georgia, and Florida under one warning?
The alert system grouped these six areas under a single warning bulletin issued by NWS Norman; each county is experiencing its own local flooding conditions, and local NWS offices provide area-specific details.
Keep tracking this:
Source: National Weather Service (NWS)
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Sky & Solar Conditions at the Time
Moon: First Quarter (40% illuminated), in Capricorn.
Notable planetary angles: Mars trine Saturn (121°), Sun sextile Jupiter (62°), Moon square Saturn (88°), Mercury square Jupiter (86°).
Concurrent space weather: planetary Kp index 2.7; strongest recent solar flare: nothing notable.
This is a factual snapshot, not a claim of cause and effect – researchers are divided on whether lunar, planetary or solar factors influence seismic or weather activity. It’s included so readers can track the pattern for themselves over time.
